Canadian students at Birmingham Law School

LLB programmes

The entry requirements for our 3-year LLB programmes by province are detailed below:

• Ontario: 85% overall in 6 grade 12 Secondary School Diploma courses
• British Columbia: grade 12 Senior Secondary Diploma with an average of at least 85% in 5 grade 12 subjects
• Manitoba: High School Graduation Diploma with an overall average of 85%, including 5 credits awarded at the 300 level in at least 4 subject areas, and at least 65% in each subject
• Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northern W. T., Nova Scotia, Nunavut, P. Edward Island, Saskatchewan: General High School Diploma with an overall average of 85% in 5 subjects at grade 12
• Québec: Diplôme d'études Collégiales (DEC) with an overall average of 85%
• Yukon: Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with an overall average of at least 85% in 5 grade 12 subjects (including provincial examinations where applicable)

LLB for Graduates

For entry to our LLB for Graduates programme, we require a B+ average or GPA of 2.8-3.0/4 and above depending on the University in any non-law degree subject.

LLM programmes

A B+ average or a GPA of 3.0/4 in a Law programme is required for entry to our LLMs. Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry.

The Federation of Canadian Law Societies’ National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is responsible for assessing and recognising the legal education of students who complete their Law degrees outside of Canada.

Many hundreds of Birmingham Law School graduates from Canada and elsewhere have previously successfully had their Birmingham Law degrees assessed by the NCA, enabling them to proceed to qualify as lawyers in Canada.

The NCA requires that graduates from England complete a law degree (typically an LLB). You can be confident that Law degrees from the University of Birmingham are recognised to allow potential progression to a career in Law in Canada.

Canadian LLB students will be required to sit a number of challenge exams when returning to Canada in order to fulfil the requirements set out by the NCA.

Canadian students from Birmingham choose to meet the NCA’s requirements either by preparing for their challenge examinations through self-study, or else by undertaking a Master’s degree at certain Canadian Law Schools. Most students will complete their NCA exams or Master’s degree within approximately 12 months of returning to Canada.

• Students completing our 2-year LLB for Graduates with a 2:2 or above (equivalent to a C in Canada) in all courses generally have to sit 7 NCA exams.
• Students completing a 3-year LLB programme with a 2:2 or above (equivalent to a C in Canada) in all courses generally have to sit 5 NCA exams. Students taking a 3-year LLB straight from high school will also have additional challenge exams set by the NCA.

Full details of the requirements can be found in the NCA's policy and guidelines.

The above information is for guidance purposes. We recommend that students carry out their own research and check with the legal associations in the jurisdictions they wish to practise in for the most up-to-date information as the regulations may change.

As a Birmingham Law School student, you will benefit from our Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research, which offers a range of opportunities to increase your experience of law in action and enhance your employability, including International Law Careers Week, and an annual Canadian Legal Careers Conference. These feature a variety of invaluable events to provide guidance on Canadian legal careers, and ensure that Canadian students are fully informed about the career options that are available to them.

The mix of people, nationalities and cultures within Birmingham Law School greatly enriches the learning and teaching environment. When choosing to study at the University of Birmingham you can be assured that you will have access to all the necessary support services to make your time here fun and enjoyable, as well as educational.

Student Experience Officer

Birmingham Law School has a dedicated Student Experience Officer who works in collaboration with staff across the College to develop a range of enhancement activities for current students. The Student Experience team host a wide range of activities and initiatives designed to enhance and enrich your experience to ensure you make the most of your time at Birmingham. 

Student societies

Many nationality groups form student societies during their time at the University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham’s Canadian Society aims to bring together Canadian and non-Canadian students alike, in order to assist with career transition and promote Canadian culture. There are plenty of opportunities to join a vibrant community of people in one of our 300 incredible student groups, societies and associations! 

Accommodation

We want you to feel at home while you are studying at Birmingham. For peace of mind when relocating around the world, we offer an accommodation guarantee scheme to our international students. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

Advice and support

All members of Law academic staff have office hours set aside each week for students to meet them on a 1-1 basis, meaning that they are always available if you need further clarification or assistance with your studies. On arrival, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will support your personal and academic development, as well as assist with any welfare issues you might have for the duration of your study. 

There is also lots of advice and support on offer from our International Student Team, both during the application process and throughout your stay in Birmingham.

Birmingham Law School offers a range of scholarships to support international students each year.

Find out more about our LLB and LLB for Graduates Scholarships, including highlights from some of our recent scholars on our undergraduate scholarship page.

We offer several postgraduate scholarships for LLM students, including our College of Arts and Law Masters Scholarship and our Harding International Legal Scholarship. Find our more about our postgraduate funding on our postgraduate scholarship pages.

The University also offers scholarships, including country-specific scholarships. More information on the scholarships available and further advice on funding your degree can be found on our international fees pages.